What are the new Covid-19 rules for 17,000 shielding households in city?
With government advice around coronavirus restrictions changing, Joe Burn looks at what this means for clinically extremely vulnerable people currently on the shielding list
AROUND 17,000 shielding households in the city are to be eased out of lockdown from tomorrow.
The government’s roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions means that advice for people who are shielding will change on March 31.
People on the shielded patient list can begin to follow the national restrictions alongside the rest of the population. But they are still advised to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe from Covid-19.
Those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) have been on the shielded list since lockdown began but were given priority access for vaccinations before the general population.
Nationally, more than 90 per cent of CEV people have been given a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The move also follows the steady decrease in the number of cases and hospitalisations across the country for the last couple of weeks.
A Stoke-on-trent City Council spokesman said: “While advice to shield is ending on March 31, we do recognise that it may take some time to adjust to the new advice.
“Our #Stokeontrenttogether service is still available to those who need support.
“From April 1 onwards, the advice to CEV people will be similar to that provided in Summer/autumn 2020, including still working from home if you can, but if that is not possible you can return to the workplace.
“You no longer will be advised to avoid shops or pharmacies but practical guidance will be offered on precautionary steps you may choose to take to minimise any residual risk (e.g. shopping and travelling at quieter times of the day).
“Children will also be advised that they should return to school and college.
“Supermarkets have agreed to continue to offer priority access to delivery slots for CEV people already receiving them for a grace period, which currently extends to June 21.”